Coating machine



F. H. CUNNINGHAM COATING MACHINE Fglled Sept. 10, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. H. CUNNINGHAM COATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flag.

INVENTOR Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES FATENT ,FFHCE.

COATING ivracnrnn.

Application filed September 10, 1923. Serial No. 661,771.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. CUNNING- AM, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coating Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to coating machines for tubes, containers, or other receptacles and has more particular reference to the provision of a machine for the purpose of coating tubes and the like with a metallic coating.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a machine for coating tubes and the like whereby the article to be coated is carried through a bath containing the liquid coating material to be used. While the article is immersed in the liquid a jet of steam is automatically forced through the tube and as the machine carries the tube out of the bath it is again subjected to a jet of steam forced through the interior of the tube.

The drawings illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meeting different conditions, various changes in the form, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention as claimed and set forth in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device.

Figure 2 is an end view showing means for rotating the machine.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

By referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that I have provided ordinary standards 1 for the support of a drum 2. This drum 2 is securely supported by the standards 1 by means of bolts 3 passing through a flange 4 and the outer circumferences 5 of the standards 1. There is provided a shaft 6 centrally located within the drum 2 with the ends 7 and 8 projecting outside the drum 2 and supporting parts.

This shaft 6 is provided with star wheels 9 spaced apart and keyed to the shaft 6 by means of keys 10. The star wheels 9 are provided with notches 11 to receive the tubes 12 to be coated (see Figures 1 and 3).

The device operates in the following manner;

By referring to Figure 2 it will be seen that there is provided a support 13 carrying a shaft 14. This shaft 14 may be caused to revolve by ordinary means known to the art.- Keyed to this shaft 14 is a crank arm 15 having the outer end 16 of the same secured to a link 17 which in turn connects with an end 18 of a rack arm 19. This rack arm is supported by a plurality of supports allowing the rack arm 19 to slide within suitable openings in the supports 20 at point 21. This rack arm 19 is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending teeth. 22

which engage with a plurality of teeth 23 formed on the circumference of a wheel 24. This wheel 24 idles on the shaft 6 and is provided with a dog 25 secured near the outer circumference of the wheel 24 by means of a pivot bolt 26. This dog 25 functions with a ratchet wheel 27 which is keyed to the shaft 6. As the rack arm 19 is caused to move backward and forward the dog 25 is caused to function with the ratchet wheel 27 thereby rotating the shaft 6 and parts secured thereto. In order that the dog 25 may be properly seated, I have provided a keeper spring 28 which normally tends to force the dog 25 continuously against the ratchet wheel 27 By referring to Figures 2 and 3 it will be seen that the shaft 6 is caused to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction. The tubes 12 are allowed to travel into the notch 11 by moving over the intake platform 29. As the star wheel 9 carries the tubes 12 in an anticlockwise direction down through a liquid bath 30, a circular disc 31 keyed to the end 8 of the shaft 6 is also caused to rotate. This circular disc is provided with a plurality of cams 32, spaced apart and located near the circumference of the above mentioned circular disc 31. The cams 32 come in con.-. tace with a valve stem 33 which opens a valve 34 which is positioned between a steam line 35 and 36, allowing the steam to travel into the steam line 35 which is provided with an end 37 projecting through a partition 38 within the drum 2. By referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the end 37 of the steam line 35 is brought opposite the end 39 of the tubes 12. As the tubes 12 are carried around in an anti-clockwise direction a branch 40 of the steam line 35 causes a jet of steam to be forced through the tube after it is elevated above the bath 30 thereby forcing the coating material over the entire inner surface of the tubes 12 and also draining the tubes from any coating material that might be unnecessary within the tubes 12. As the star wheel 9 revolves, the tubes 12 are released from the drum 2 and roll out through an opening 41 on to an incline platform 42.

V] hat I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described a drum member, shaft passing through the central portion of the same, star wheels spaced apart secured to said shaft, a rack arm provided with upwardly extending teeth, an idle wheel positioned on the above mentioned shaft, a dog secured to said idle wheel, a ratchet Wheel keyed to an outer end of said shaft and functioning with above mentioned drum for the purpose of rotating the star wheels in order to carry tubes down into a bath and elevate the same so that the tubes are allowed to roll out upon an inclined platform, a circular disc secured to an opposite end of said shaft, a plurality of cams located upon said circular disc, a valve functioning with saidcams for the purpose of automatically turning on and turning off steam carried in steam lines connected to said valve, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device of the class described a circular drum means for carrying tubes downwardly and upwardly through a bath, means for injecting steam simultaneously Within a tube immersed in the bath and another tube elevated above the bath, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK H. GUN NINGHAM.

Witnesses C. A. HARPMAN, H. H. WICKHAM. 

